The Oceanside Business Association's Christmas parade is on the same tier as the Festival of Trees, Fourth of July fireworks across the Indian River Lagoon and other annual holiday must-see events in Vero Beach.

My wife, Michelle, and I have watched many Christmas parades in the nine years we've been here. Impressively, each year the parade grows — in onlookers and participants. In the early years nearly three decades ago, a few dozen people saw a handful of floats parade down a few blocks. Last Saturday, an estimated 5,000 people witnessed more than 60 groups, about a third more than last year, march a dozen blocks north on Ocean Drive.

This year, we were fortunate to participate in this tradition. Besides a few high-stressed and unprofessional parade officials, the experience was one I would encourage everyone to take part in.

My family, including our twin 16-month-old girls, Kaley and Ryley, walked with the Treasure Coast Twins group. With each little twin in the group dressed in a holiday theme, you can imagine the amount of "awe's" from the crowd. It was rewarding to see all of the smiling faces, cameras flashing and people waving and shouting, "Merry Christmas," from the curbs.

I also was overwhelmed with pride, because every few steps someone was displaying or waving an American flag. It was a good reminder about our community and country.

The event afforded the Neals the opportunity to come together and decorate our red Radio Flyer wagon as a sleigh surrounded by lights and miniature reindeer running up the handle.

This project was difficult, so I can only imagine what Karen Dodson had to do the past three years she's been in charge of the parade. Dodson coordinates the parade for the Oceanside Business Association.

"I've been getting phone calls (about the parade) since June … anywhere from 10 to 80 a week," she said, adding some participants start building their float as early as the summer. "It takes quite a lot to put on a parade like this. There's so much pressure … but it's all about the children."

A successful event doesn't happen by accident. Everything, from the early communication and specific staging area assignments to the guidance during the parade and the exiting of floats at Greytwig Road, were very well thought-out and organized. Dodson even sent out 700 postcards to homes and businesses around the parade route to warn them of the expected congestion and street closings.

The only dark spots in what was otherwise a great experience were the verbal assaults cast by Dodson and Oceanside Business Association President Al Benkert in the staging area.

When a mother asked Dodson a question about parking, instead of politely answering and helpfully directing her through the chaotic staging area, Dodson — dressed as Mrs. Claus — screamed at her in front of a 3-year-old. Later, Benkert also yelled, cursed in front of the children and even threatened to not allow the group in the parade over a parking issue.

Both matters could have easily been resolved if cooler heads prevailed. Instead, the next day when his parents asked about the parade, the 3-year-old said he is scared of Mrs. Claus and the man on roller blades (Benkert) because of how mean they were to everyone. That was his memory of the parade.

Dodson and Benkert both apologized when I met with them a few days later. Dodson said she would even like to write the mother an apology letter.

I'm sure getting about 60 groups together in an orderly fashion is like trying to herd cats, but it was an unprofessional and negative representation of the Oceanside Business Association on an otherwise fantastic event.

If either are part of the parade next year, I would hope they remember the impression their inexcusable actions left on a 3-year-old.